Schools Risk Assessment Kayaking

Risk Assessment for Activities with Children and Young people taking part in kayaking with PSKC

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What are you already doing?

Do you need to do anything else to manage this risk?

Action by whom?

Action by when?

Done

Lost children

Children may become lost before and after sessions – and potentially during sessions of land or water

· Each group leader is responsible for checking children in and out. The teachers will be responsible for getting the children to and from the beach.

· On the water and beach the group leader will ensure that all children are kept in sight.

· Group leaders will keep a log of parents’ phone numbers

· Consent form (organised by teachers) should indicate whether children are allowed to walk home on their own

Group leaders (i.e. The lead sailing, kayaking and rowing instructor)

Every time

Accidents and injuries on water through capsize, collisions and loss of control

Children may sustain injuries or remain in the water too long

· Reduce risk by ensuring that children only go on the water when conditions are appropriate for their abilities (which will be assessed). Group leader decides

· Sessions only take place when there is adequate rescue boat cover on the water or at least 2 kayak instructors

· Groups leaders (or other leaders as deputised) maintain constant sight of all children

· Children’s boats do not leave area defined by group leader (children briefed)

· Children’s kayaks remain in close proximity to instructors at all times

· All children to wear life jackets at all times on the water

· Children required to wear wetsuits or other clothing appropriate to weather and conditions including jackets and appropriate footwear

· Children given safety briefing on first session

· Boats used, regularly maintained

· First aid kit available on rescue boat (and onshore)

· Qualified first aider will be available at each session

· All kayak instructors trained to perform deep water rescues

Group leaders

By Start of 2018 season

Medical events or emergencies based on pre-existing condition

Children: Medical event may take place during session

· Maintaining record of condition in consent form which is transferred to information held by group leader (or someone within group).

· Group leader takes account of condition in advance of first session, taking advice as required from the teachers. Where this involves the use of medications this should previously be agreed by teachers with parents.

· Contact details for doctors/medical support maintained.

Keep central record which is kept confidential and only used where appropriate

Group leaders

From April 2018

Children coming ashore wet and cold without appropriate facilities

Children: cold and hypothermia

· Children should not be left in water for more than a few minutes

· Needs to be person on beach to receive children

· Hot drinks available

· Arrangement with pool for changing

Arrangement with pool for changing if required

Hypothermia kit is hanging in the shed

Training co-ordinator and Group leaders

From April 2018

Injury sustained ashore such as through quad bike or tractor

Children: Falling off quad bike/tractor, collisions

· Enforce rule that there should be no children travelling as passengers on quad bike/tractor

All users of quad bike/tractor should have had training session

Training co-ordinator and Group leaders

From April 2018

Anxiety or actual inability to cope caused by poor weather conditions

Children may feel pressured to participate against their will and either fail to cope effectively or lose confidence

· Be clear about when conditions are appropriate for each group

· Make arrangements if some of group are anxious (e.g. will sail with more experienced person/ adult, go three in a boat, travel in rescue boat etc)

· Use double kayaks with instructors

Group leader to understand ability and confidence levels of participants

Group leaders

From April 2018

Risk from adults (16 plus)

Non- assessed risk from adult

· Disclosure requirement enforced for all helpers

· Group leaders to observe any unsafe behaviour by other adult helpers and act to correct / prevent repeat

Ensure that all disclosures in place

Checking existing disclosures of all of those to whom it is relevant

Kayak instructors to have had child protection training in accordance with SCA policy

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